Lead Found In Water Fountains At Northern California School

HEALDSBURG, Calif. (AP) -- Officials have found high levels of lead in drinking fountains at a Northern California elementary school.

The Santa Rosa Press Democrat reports that school officials informed parents and the Sonoma County public health department this week that lead was found in drinking fountains at Healdsburg Elementary School. The lead contamination was detected over Thanksgiving break and the school immediately shut off the fountains and began providing bottled water.

School officials say they waited to inform parents and health officials because they wanted to have a corrective plan in place.

Healdsburg Unified School District Superintendent Chris Vanden Heuvel says the problem appears to stem from aging pipes at the school and that the district is working on construction plans to fix the plumbing.